Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-18
VETERANS TRIBUTE.
Memorial Day at the Soldiers National
Home. Togus.


The comely buildings of the National Sol
oiers home, Togus. with their picturesque
environments; embowerd 10 the waving
green Of graceful shade trees, never appeared
at better advantage then beneath the rays Of
the beaming June sun of yesterday which
was observed a. the annual Memorial D.v .,
the Home. Seemingly almost everybody one
knew was there. The three sister c,t,es each
sent large delegations and on the Augusta
road there was one complete cavalcade of
teams from one to t~o O'Clock, p. NJ. One
traveller counted between"Lapham's Corner"
and Thornes. one hundred teams, while pass
ing between these points I People for many
miles back came and the drives about the
Home were crowded with vehicles of every
description, from the stately barouche to the
two wheeled gig. The trees OF the grove ad.
Jacent TO the buildings were empIoved AZ
hitching posts and nearly every trunk had
lis horse. All the people were 10 holiday At
IRE and they moved about seeing the sights.
IL was the biggest crowd ever at the Home ON
such an occasion.
Inc exercises OF the home were conducted
under the directions Of the comrades of Cut
- S@s' ur PiOSEs5iBu IOrfQ6Q AT 81 r.
NJ, the right resting on RIckland street, in
the following order:
National Home Band. b. W Theme. Leader.
Cntier Post, No. 10, G. A. X Togus. Ne. T. c.
Goodwin. Commander.
omcers OF the Home, Orator. Chaplain, and Invited
Guests.
Veteran Members of the Home in Companies. under
the Command Of Company -ergeants
ContinentaIs. Hook and Ladder and Hose Company,
Gardiner Fire Department, Capt. G. N.
. Drake. Commander.
Heath Post. No. 8, Gardner, L. G. league Conn.,
seth Williams Post, No. Is. Augusta, Henry G. Sta.
. pies, Commander.
brookings Post, No. l49, Randolph E. Bookings
Commander.
Then with slow and solemn step the veter-
ans OF The institution accompanied by The Wis.,
ltors, and each bearing a fJral chap let,
moved 10 the cemetery on the hill where
their comrades sleep who one BY one have
LETT the country which they loved and served
so well, and launched their boats on sthe
sladowy river nev,r 20 return
Silently the veterans gathered about the
stand with its decorations of flags and bunt-
ing, and after music by the Home band and
prayer by Chaplaio Wells, proceeded to the
grass grown mounds now numbering 60 in
all, and with tender care deposited their trib.
utes of flowers. the band playing dirEe
Then they returned to the stand and listened
to one OF the most eloquent Memorial Day
addresses ever delivered beneath the trees Of
the cemetery grove. The orator WAS Rev.
IL Price Collier of bingham, Mass.
The point which he most emphasized was
tolerance" OF all people of this great coun-
try
There are no differences but moral ones
all are on an equal footing.
This IS not government by the poor or
rich, but government by all and for all.
Wealth consolidates, labor combines, edu-
Gated people gather 10 little groups, ignorant
people coDgregate together; these are classes.
1t ia not question whether Powderly or
Gould shall control the country.
We are neither workingmen. nabobs, Ger
mans, Irish, or Englishmen; but we are
Americans, and God keep US so.
1t is nobody's business how you or I wor..
ship, live or dress.
The gratitude which the government owes
to you can b. best pr, served by the preserva-
ton of this couutry for wnich YOU braved so
many dangers 10 offend
The speaker was repeatedly spplsuded and
the address gave unmlstakable satisfaction to
all who heard it.
The exercises closed with music by the
band. singing Of "America," and benediction
by the chaplain.